Proclaiming God’s Word

1. Proclaiming God’s Word

2. Overview • Opening ritual • Reverence • Jesus’ use of Parables • Listening and Responding to the Word of God • Divine Revelation • Biblical Inspiration • Liturgy of the Word • Lectionary • Faith-filled People • Active Listening Skills

3. First Thought • The living Word of God is transmitted to us by the Church through the work of the Holy Spirit • It is our calling as Christians to listen to God’s word and respond to it in faith • As you move toward Confirmation, it is important that you continue to grow in your ability to hear God’s word and respond to it Lord God, open my heart to your word and give me the courage to respond in faith. Amen

4. Opening Ritual • Turn to page 102 for the Opening Ritual • Need four volunteers (readers) in the Opening Ritual • Once finished with the Opening Ritual have a seat

5. Opening Ritual • Which reading or readings in the opening ritual caught your attention? Why? • In your book it explained that before the age of printing technologies, manuscripts and books were highly valued and treated with greater care • Bible was often decorated with original artwork as a sign of great honor and reverence • How can we show respect and reverence for the printed Word of God?

6. The Word of the Lord • What is Reverence? • The attitude and response one has toward someone or something deserving of honor or respect

7. Proclaiming God’s Word What does the image (pg 17) mean to you?

8. The Word of the Lord • What is a Parable? • A type of story that Jesus told comparing the one thing to another to teach an invite his listeners to make a decision to live for the Kingdom of God • A good example of a parable is the verse we read during the Opening Ritual • Have volunteer read Matthew 13: 3-9, 13, 19-23 (Faith First book, pages 18 and 19) • What do the images of the sower and the seed help you understand about listening and responding to the Word of God? • Why did Jesus use parables?

9. Have you ever “tuned out” someone or have been “tuned out” by someone? Explain

10. The Word of the Lord What might distract you from listening and responding to the Word of God? Distraction What Change May be Necessary?

11. The Word of the Lord • Kingdom of God • The biblical image used to describe all people and creation living in communion with God when Jesus Christ comes again in glory at the end of time

12. The Word of the Lord • Divine Revelation • God’s free gift of gradually, over time, communication in words and deeds his own mystery and his divine plan of creation and Salvation • It’s God “speaking” to us • In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets. In these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe (Hebrews 1:1-2) • Divine Revelation is passed on through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition

13. The Word of the Lord • Biblical Inspiration • The process by which the Holy Spirit assisted the human writers of Sacred Scripture so that they would teach faithfully, and without error, the saving truth that God, the principal author of the Scriptures, wished to communicate

14. The Word of the Lord • Catechism of the Catholic Church – The Magisterium of the Church (85) "The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living, teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ.” This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.

15. The Word of the Lord • God invites us to listen and respond to His Word • He wants us to know Him, love Him and serve Him • We must listen attentively to the Word of God proclaimed at Mass and respond in a way that deepens our relationship with Him

16. The Word of GodSmall group exercise • Discuss the following questions • List three key things you have come to know about God from Sacred Scripture and from the teachings of the Church • Select one of the three things listed and describe how it make a difference for your life

17. The Liturgy of the Word • The part of the Church’s liturgical celebrations during which the Sacred Scriptures are proclaimed and the assembly of the faithful is invited to respond with faith • The Liturgy of the Word includes words and other ritual gestures and the assembly of the faithful’s response in faith • The Liturgy of the Word at Mass is rooted in ancient Jewish worship rituals • In the Old and New Testaments the Jewish people gathered to listen to the proclamation of God’s word and to renew their commitment to live the Covenant

18. The Liturgy of the Word • Lectionary • The book that contains the Scripture readings that are assigned to be proclaimed at the celebration of the liturgy • Confirmation: Lectionary designates 5 Old Testament texts for the First Reading, 6 Psalms for the Responsorial Psalm, 12 New Testament texts for the Second Reading, and 12 Gospel sections for the Gospel Proclamation

19. The Liturgy of the Word • Discuss: What can you do to prepare yourself to participate actively, fully, and consciously in the Liturgy of the Word at your Confirmation and at every liturgical celebration?

20. The Church Lives the FaithFaith-filled People • Anthony of the Desert • He read the Gospel passage, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21) • St Anthony responded by doing exactly that and lived out the rest of his life as a person of prayer in solitude in the desert

21. The Church Lives the FaithFaith-filled People • Sister Dorothy Stang • Worked for decades with the rural poor of the Amazon rain forest basin in Brazil, South America • Despite death threats from wealthy landowners and loggers she continued to be outspoken in her efforts on behalf of the poor and the environment • While at gunpoint she read the Beatitude “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” to her assassins • More than 2,000 poor Brazilian farmers marched to the remote jungle town of Anapu for the funeral of this 73 year old nun

22. Living the Faith – Makes a Difference • Who listens to you? Who doesn’t? Why? • Interpersonal Communication • You learn good communication skills over a lifetime

23. Active Listening • Why is it difficult to actively listen to someone? • Most people speak at a rate of 100 to 175 words per minute • We can listen intelligently at a rate of 600 to 800 words per minute • It’s easy for your mind to drift … the cure is active listening

24. Developing Active-listening Skills • Be present - Focus your attention deliberately on the person who is speaking and what is being communicated. Avoid distractions • Make Eye Contact - Look directly at the person who is speaking. Listen not only with your ears but also with your eyes and other senses • Be open-minded - Avoid making quick judgments about what the person is saying

25. Developing Active-listening Skills • Clarify - Acknowledge and clarify points as they are being communicate • Communicate - Show interest in what is being said through verbal and nonverbal actions

26. Small Group Exercise • Identify things that help you be an active listener … … with your friends and … in church • How can you become a better listener … … with your friends and … in church

27. Summary • Opening ritual • Reverence • Jesus’ use of Parables • Listening and Responding to the Word of God • Divine Revelation • Biblical Inspiration • Liturgy of the Word • Lectionary • Faith-filled People • Active Listening Skills